Tool for applying connection means to tubular members



Dec. 1969 5. w. ZIEGLER, JR 3, 8 9

TOOL FOR APPLYING CONNECTION MEANS TO TUBULAR MEMBERS Filed June 19, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 23, 1969 a. w. ZIEGLER, JR

TOOL FOR APPLYING CONNECTION MEANS TO TUBULAR MEMBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1967 Dec. 23, 1969 G. WHZIEGLER, JR 3,484,921

TOOL FOR APPLYING CONNECTION MEANS T0 TUBULAR MEMBERS Filed June 19. 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 19, 1967 Dec. 23, 1969 G. w. ZIEGLER, JR 3, 84 9 I TOOL FOR APPLYING CONNECTION MEAN-S TO TUBULAR MEMBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent US. Cl. 29-203 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Tool means for applying connection means to tubular means which comprise a body member for receiving the tubular means, holding means provided by the body member for holding one end of the tubular means in position in the body member, positioning means provided in the body member to position the one end therein, working means for disposition in the body member adjacent the one end for working on the one end of the tubular means, another body member for receiving the worked end of the tubular means and the connection means to be applied thereto, and means provided by the other body member for applying the connection means to the one end of the tubular means.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION SPECIFICATION This invention relates to tool means and more particularly to tool means for applying connection means to tubular members to interconnect same.

An object of the invention is to provide tool means for applying connection means to coaxial cable means to interconnect same.

Another object of the invention is to provide tool means for performing operations on coaxial cable means and to apply connection means thereto.

A further object of the invention is the provision of tool means which include various parts to perform different operations on coaxial cable means. An additional object of the invention is to provide tool means that is versatile and is easily operated to apply connection means onto the ends of tubular means. A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool means that includes means for readily applying connector means to the ends of coaxial cable means or tubular means to interconnect same.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention; it is to be understood however, that these embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view with some of the elements having parts removed of parts of the tool means to perform operations on the ends of tubular means;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of one part of the tool means of FIGURE 1 and the end of a coaxial cable Patented Dec. 23, 1969 means illustrating the work performed thereon by this part;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating another part of the tool means of FIGURE 1 and the end of the coaxial means illustrating the work performed thereon by this part;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tool means of FIGURE 1 with the end of the coaxial cable means in position therein and the part of FIGURE 3 disposed therein to perform an operation on the end of the coaxial cable means;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of coaxial cable means and elements to splice the coaxial cable means together;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view with one element in partial cross secton of other tool means to splice the cable means of FIGURE 5 together;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the other tool means of FIGURE 6 which illustrates the splice in an assembled condition;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG- URE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of a disconnectible connection for coaxial cable means;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective exploded view partially in section of further tool means to apply the connection means of FIGURE 9 to the ends of the coaxial cable means;

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of the tool means in FIGURE 10 in operation;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a connection means partially applied to the end of a coaxial cable means;

FIGURE 13 is an exploded perspective view partially in section of additional tool means to apply the connection means of FIGURE 12 to the end of coaxial cable means; and

FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view of the tool means of FIGURE 13 after applying the connection means to the end of the cable means.

Turning now to the drawings and more particularly FIGURES 1 through 4, tool means TM comprises a tubular body member 1 provided with externally threaded sections 2, 3, and 4 with threaded section 2 being disposed on one side of annual projection 5 while threaded sections 3 and 4 are disposed on the other side of projection 5 in spaced relationship. The bore of body mem-.

ber 1 is provided with sections 6 through 8, each of which has a different diameter and stepped surfaces 9 and 10 disposed therebetween. A threaded opening 11 extends through projection 5 and receives threaded section 12 of handle 13.

Clamping member 14 is disposed within sections 7 and 8 of body members 1 and has clamping jaws 15 formed by slots 16 extending almost the full length of tubular element 17. A collar 18 is provided at one end of element 17 and abuts against surface 9. The external surfaces of clamping jaws 15 are tapered and clamping jaws .15 are springably mounted via the continuously annular section of element 17.

A sleeve 19 fits into section 8 of body member 1 and includes threaded area 20 which is mateab le with threaded area 8a to maintain the sleeve in position therein. Sleeve 19 is provided with a reduced section 21 which fits in section 7 of body member 1 and abuts against collar 18 of clamping member 14 to maintain the clamping member in position. Stepped surface 22 is located at the junction between the larger part of sleeve 19 and reduced section 21 thereof and engages stepped surface 10. A flange 23 is located at the end of sleeve 19 adjacent threaded area 20 which abuts against the end of body member 1 and includes opposed flat surfaces 24 for engagement by a wrench or the like to tighten sleeve 19 in position in body member 1.

An operating member 25 is a sleeve member that is fittable within sleeve 19 and includes a tapered inner surface 26 which is engageable with the tpared clamping jaws to move them toward and away from the longitudinal axis of body member 1 in accordance with the axial movement of operating member relative to clamping member 14. Operating member 25 is provided with a flange 27 which abuts against flange 23 of sleeve 19.

Cap member 28 has an opening 29 extending through the end thereof and the internal surface is provided with threads 30 mateable with threaded sections 3 and 4 of body member 1. Cap member 28 is threadably movable along body member .1 to move operating member 25 relative to clamping jaws 15. Operating member 25 is secured to cap member 28 via pins P disposed in aligned openings 25a and 28a.

A positioning member 31 is provided with section 32 positionable in section 6 of body member 1 and a stepped surface 33 engageable with the end of body member 1 for positioning the end of cable means 34 within body member 1.

Cap member 35 is provided with an internal wall 36 having an opening 37 extending therethrough. The internal surface of cap member 35 on one side of wall 36 is provided with threads 38 mateable with threaded section 2 so as to move relative thereto.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a flaring member 38 that has a flaring section 39 to begin the flaring operation on coaxial cable means 34 to partially flare the end of rigid outer conduction means 40 away from insulation means 41 which surrounds the center conductor means 42 when cap member 35 drives flaring member 38. Stepped surface 43 of flaring member 38 engages the end of body member 1 to limit the movement of flaring section 39 within the end of cable means 34.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrates flaring member 44 which is driven by cap member 35 to drive flaring section 45 between outer conductor means 40 and insulation means 41 to finish the flaring operation on the cable means. Stepped surface 46 engages the end of body member 1 to limit the movement of flaring section 45 within the end of the cable means. Flaring member 44 is also provided with an opening 47 extending therethrough in alignment with opening 37 in internal wall 36 in order to drill a hole in center conductor means 42 if desired. The inner end of flaring section 45 is provided with a conical surface 48 to capture center conductor means 42 therein and hold the end of this conductor means in position while the hole is being drilled therein. A tapping operation can also be performed on the end of the center conduct r means after the hole has been drilled, if desired.

In operation, cable means 34 is placed within tool 2 means TM through opening 29 of cap member 28 until the end thereof abuts against section 32 of positioning member 31 which is held in position within body member 1 by means of cap member 35. Cap member 28 is then threadably moved along body member 1 causing operating member 25 to move clamping jaws 15 into tight engagement with cable means 34. Positioning member 31 is removed from body member 1 and replaced with flaring member 38 which is used to partially flare the end of the cable means and flaring member 44 replaces flaring member 38 so that flaring section 45 completely flares the end of the cable means as illustrated in FIGURE 3. With flaring member 44 in a fully flared position within the end of cable means 34, center conductor means 42 can be drilled and tapped as heretofore explained via openings 37, 47 and conical surface 48. The ends of all cable means to be used in the other tool means hereinafter described will be flared by tool means TM.

FIGURES 5 through 8 illustrate a splice of the type disclosed in US. patent application, Ser. No. 421,903, filed Dec. 29, 1964,- now Patent No; 3,350,500, and other tool means TMa to effect the splice. Tool means TMa comprises a U-shaped body member 49 having threaded openings 50 disposed therein to receive threaded section 12 of handle 13. Body member 49 includes a U-shaped extension 51 having threads 52 provided on the external surface thereof. An engaging surface 53 is located at the juncture b etween body member 49 and extension 51.

A retaining member 54 includes an arc-uate-shaped plate 55 which has a reduced section 56 at one end for disposition in body member 49 and a U-shaped driving member 57 at the other end which mates with the end of extension 51 but overlaps a portion thereof in alignment with engaging surfaces 53. Plate 55 includes extensions 55a which engage surfaces 51a of extension 51, as illustrated in FIGURE 8. Such an arrangement permits part of plate 55 to be disposed within extension 51. A U-shaped cap member 58 is provided with a threaded section 59 mateable with threads 52 and a driving surface 63. The threads of threaded section 59 are provided with lands.

In operation to splice cable means 34 together, loading members 60 are disposed on cable means 34 prior to the outer conductor means being flared and the inner conductor means being drilled by tool means TM. Center contact 61 is placed in the drilled center conductor means of one of cable means 34 and sleeve means 62 is dis posed in the flared end of this cable means. The flared end of the other cable means is manually shoved onto sleeve means 62 and loading members 60 are manually moved along cable means 34 until they engage respective flared ends thereof. The splice assembly is placed within extension 51 with one of loading members 60 being disposed against engaging surface 53. Retaining member 54 is then placed over the splice assembly with reduced section 56 disposed within body member 49 and driving member 57 positioned against the other loading member 60. Cap member 58 is then threadably mounted onto extension 51 and is threadably driven therealong causing driving surface 63 which engages driving member 57 to drive the one loading member along the flared section while the other loading member is held stationary against engaging surface 53 until the splice is completed as illustrated in FIGURE 7. Retaining member 54 is held in position by cap member 58 which retains the splice assembly in position in the tool means during the move ment of the loading members into position over the flared ends of the cable means. The U-shape of body member 49, extension 51 and cap member 58 permits these members to be placed on and removed from the cable means.

The width of the U-shaped opening in cap member 58 is slightly smaller than the width of the part of plate 55 that is disposed within extension 51 so that this part is maintained in position by cap member 58 thereby precluding any sidewise, centrally-directed and outwardly-directed motions.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a disconnectible connection of the type discolsed in US. Patent No. 3,245,027, and tool means TMb, as illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11, to apply the elements of this disconnect to cable means 34. U-shaped body member 64 is similar in configuration to body member 49 of tool means TMa, FIGURES 6 and 7. Body member 64 also includes threaded openings 65 to receive threaded section 12 of handle 13. Body member 64 also includes a U-shaped extension 66 having threads 67 disposed on the exterior surface thereof. An engaging surface 68 is located on the interior surface of extension 66.

A retaining member 69 is arcuate-shaped in cross section and includes an engaging surface 70 on the internal surface thereof and a reduced section 71 which is disposable within body member 64. This retaining member operates in the same manner as retaining member 54, FIGURES 6-8.

Mounting member 72 comprises an annular section 73 which has an extension 74 extending outwardly from one surface thereof and a projection 75 extending outwardly from the other surface. Extension 74 includes a reduced section 76. Cap member 77 comprises a bore 78 having a threaded section 79 and an opening 80 which is in communication with bore 78.

In operation, loading members 60 are placed on cable means 34 and the ends thereof are flared as heretofore described. Jack 81 is then mounted on mounting member 72 as illustrated in FIGURE and sleeve 82 of this jack is manually pushed as far as possible within the flared end of the cable means. This assembly then is placed in tool means TMb with the cable means being placed in body member 64 and extension 66 with the outer end of loading member 60 disposed againstengaging surface 68. Retaining member 69 is then placed in position with engaging surface 70 in engagement with the outer end of loading member 60 and reduced sections 71 within body member 64. Cap member 77 is then threadably mounted on extension 66 until projection 75 is disposed in opening 80 and annular section 73 is bottomed in bore 78. Movement of cap member 77 along extension 66 causes sleeve 82 of jack 81 to move in the flared section of the cable means if it has not been manually bottomed and loading member 60 to move onto the flared end and load the flared end against the sleeve to secure jack 81 in position in cable means 34. The same operation is performed to secure'plug 83 in the end of the other cable means.

FIGURE 12 illustrates a 90 fitting. 84 to be applied to the end of cable means 34 and FIGURES 13 and 14 illustrate tool means TMc to apply fitting 84 to the end of cable means 34. Tool means TMc 'compirses a body member 85 having threaded openings 86 in which threaded section 12 of handle 13 is disposed. Body member 85 has a section 87 which is U-shaped and'is provided with a nest 88 for receiving fitting 84 as illustrated in FIGURE 14. A U-shaped opening 89 is disposed in body member 85 in alignment with nest 88 and in communication with U-shaped extension 90 having threads 91 disposed on the external surface thereof.

A retaining member 92 is. similar in configuration and operation to retaining member 54 and thereby includes arcuate-shaped plate 93 which has reduced section 94 and U-shaped driving member 95. An engaging surface 96 is located at the inner end of reduced section 94.U-shaped cap member 97 is provided with a threaded section 98 and an engaging surface 99.

In operation, loading member 60 is placed on cable means 34, the end of cable means 34 is flared via tool means TM as heretofore described and sleeve 100 of fitting 84 is manually shoved into the flared end of cable means 34 between the outer conductor means and the insulation means as illustrated in FIGURE 12. Fitting 84 is disposed in nest 88 and the cable means with loading member 60 in snug engagement with the flared end of the cable is placed in opening 89 and extension 90. Retaining member 92 is placed in position with plate 93 disposed over the cable and engaging surface 96 in engagement with the outer end of loading member 60, reduced section 94 being disposed within opening 89. Cap member 97 is threadably mounted on extension 90 and engaging surface 99 thereof engages driving member 95 of retaining member 92 thereby driving retaining member 92 along cable means 34 with engaging surface 96 driving loading member 60 onto the flared end of the cable means and pushing the flared end into tight engagement with sleeve 100 thereby securing fitting 84 in position within the end of the cable means. Cap members 28, 35, 58, 77 and 97 may be manually operated thereby having externally serrated surfaces or they may have configurations suitable for wrench operation. Alternatively, automatic driving means may be utilized to drive these cap members.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiments of the invention, which are shown and described herein, are intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Tool means for applying connection means to tubular means comprising a body member for receiving the tubular means, holding means provided by the body member for holding one end of the tubular means in position in the body member, positioning means provided in the body member to position the one end therein, working means for disposition in the body member adjacent the one end for working on the one end of the tubular means, another body member for receiving the worked end of the tubular means and the connection means to be applied thereto, and means provided by the other body member for applying the connection means to the one end of the tubular means.

2. Tool means according to claim 1 wherein said other body memberincludes retaining means having a section disposable along said connection means and another sec tion disposable within said other body member.

3. Tool means for operating on an end of a tubular means and for applying connection means thereto comprising a tubular body member, clamping means disposed within said body member and including clamping jaw means movable toward and away from a longitudinal axis of said body member, securing means securing said clamping means in position in said body member, operating means movable along said clamping jaw means for moving said clamping jaw means inwardly to a clamped position to clamp said tubular means in position and to permit said clamping jaw means to move to an unclamped position, positioning means positionable within said body member to position an end of said tubular means within said body member prior to being clamped therein via said clamping means and operating means, maintaining means to maintain said positioning means in position within said body member, working means replacing said positioning means and operated by said maintaining means for performing work on said end of said tubular means, another body member having an area for receiving the worked end of said tubular means and the connection means, and applying means provided by said other body member for applying the connection means to the worked end of said tubular means and securing the same thereto.

4. Tool means according to claim 3 wherein said other body member has a U-shaped configuration and a U- shaped extension extending outwardly therefrom.

5. Tool means according to claim 3 wherein retaining means is disposed on said other body member and is held in position thereon by said applying means to retain said worked end of said tubular means and the connection means in position in said area during the application of the connection means to the worked end of said tubular means.

-6. Tool means for performing operations on an end of tubular means comprising a tubular body member, clamping means disposed within said body member and including clamping jaw means movable toward and away from a longitudinal axis of said body member, securing means securing said clamping means in position in said body member, operating means movable along said clamping jaw means for moving said clamping jaw means inwardly to a clamped position to clamp said tubular means in position and to permit said clamping jaw means to move to an unclamped position, positioning means positionable within said body member to position an end of said tubular means within said body member prior to being clamped therein via said clamping means and operating means, maintaining means to maintain said positioning means onposition within said body member, and working means replacing said positioning means and operated by said maintaining means for performing work on said end of said tubular means.

7. Tool means for applying connection means on an end of tubular means comprising a body member having a U-shaped configuration, an extension extending outwardly from said body member and having a U-shaped configuration in alignment with the U-shaped configuration of said body member, said body member and said extension adapted to receive said connection means and said end of said tubular means, and driving means for disposition on said extension and along a section of said tubular means and for engagement with at least a section of said connection means for driving said connection means into a secured position at said end of said tubular means. a

8. Tool means according to claim 7 wherein said driving means includes retaining means to retain said con- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,867,143 1/1959 Appleton 29203 3,210,836 10/1915 Johanson et al. 29278 10 3,325,885 6/1967 Ziegler et a1. 29203 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner 

